STATEMENT BY CONGRESS OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
NATIONAL CHIEF PATRICK BRAZEAU ON BUDGET 2007
(Ottawa, ON - March 21, 2007) The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) is optimistic that the provisions of Budget 2007 in respect of Aboriginal peoples represent evidence of the Federal Government’s recognition and accommodation of the majority of Canada’s Aboriginal population – those who live away from Indian Act reserves.
We are encouraged that Budget 2007 has attempted to address the fiscal imbalance with the Provinces. This is fundamental to off-reserve Aboriginal peoples since it is through the Provinces that programming and services are delivered to the off-reserve community.
CAP is committed to working with both the Federal and Provincial governments to ensure that the increased provincial resources for health and social services include accommodation for the growing off-reserve constituency.
CAP is committed to working with both the Federal and Provincial governments to ensure that the increased provincial resources for health and social services include accommodation for the growing off-reserve constituency.
Seventy-nine percent of Canada’s Aboriginal population – comprised of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples – reside away from Indian Act reserves. Of the status Indian population, fifty-one percent live off-reserve. Despite this reality, until recently the ratio of on- and off-reserve spending on Aboriginal programming was heavily skewed to First Nations communities. For every $8 spent on-reserve, only $1 was spent in off-reserve programming.
The Congress is pleased that the Federal Government is reaffirming its long-term commitment to Aboriginal communities, through the investment of $300 million per year to support education, housing, families and women and children. CAP is also pleased with the $14.5 million invested in the Aboriginal Justice Strategy that enhances access to community justice programs.
CAP is also pleased with the measures to more than double the size of the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership initiative through the investment of $105 million over five years.
CAP and its affiliates across Canada will work with the Federal Government and the Provinces to broker its involvement in other key budget areas to ensure that off-reserve Aboriginal peoples can gain advantage from Budget 2007’s transfers to the Provinces.
Funding in key initiatives such as combating violence against women, the national anti-drug strategy and the protection of children from sexual exploitation and trafficking must be made available to the Aboriginal community living off-reserve.
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is calling on the Federal Government and the Council of the Federation to work together to ensure that a strong accountability regimen is put in place, that resources are properly, effectively and sustainably invested, and that they bring about the intended results.
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For further information, please contact:
Al Fleming
Director
Public Affairs
613-747-6022 (office)
613-867-8696 (mobile)
al@abo-peoples.org
